verify_receipt

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description carries the burden and does disclose key behaviors: the check is local (implying no network calls) and its proof scope is deliberately limited. It stops short of saying what the call returns or how a mismatch surfaces, which matters because there is no output schema.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences, zero filler, with the core check front-loaded and the limitation and alternative trailing as a natural caveat. Nothing is repeated from structured fields.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a verification tool with a nested object parameter and no output schema, the definition should say what a success and a failure look like. It covers scope and limitations well but leaves the return contract entirely undefined, which is the main gap an agent would hit.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so all three parameters are already documented, making the baseline 3. The description adds conceptual framing (canonical SHA-256, receipt header and digest) but does not mention the optional sha256 cross-check parameter or how the pieces interact.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description names a specific verb and resource: locally checking a base64 OpenTimestamps receipt header/digest against a dmt-memory/v1 object's canonical SHA-256. It is precise about scope but never references the sibling stamp_memory, so the agent must infer the pairing from names alone.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

It gives an explicit negative boundary ('does not validate calendar operations or Bitcoin inclusion') and routes the agent to the correct alternative ('use ots upgrade/verify for full proof verification'). It could be stronger by stating the positive trigger condition, e.g. when to reach for this versus stamp_memory, but the exclusion guidance is genuinely useful.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.